Review: Black Dynamite

After seeing the trailer for Black Dynamite late last year and hearing about it from the homies at Konsole Kingz when they went to the Sundance Festival I made sure I kept an eye out for its release date. Though its been a while since then, the wait was most definitely worth it...

I planned on going out to see it tonight when it hit theatres but I was blessed with an invite to a free advanced screening (whats up Diego) last night. The film was so funny that I plan on spending money to see it again.

Now, I'm usually not one for silly, or overly dry humor for that matter. I tend to prefer "smart" humor. Black Dynamite is a combination of of silly and smart. This was a very well exectuted movie. This may sound confusing, but they made the movie bad, on purpose. I mean you'll see boom mics in some of the scenes (which are sometimes out of focus) and you'll even see characters crying tears that disappear and then reappear all in the same dialogue. To clear it up for you, the film is not supposed to be a 2009 Blaxploitation flick...its a Blaxploitation spoof. Think I'm Gonna Get You Sucka but wittier with less blatant hi-jinks.

While the movie is silly as hell, it doesn't come off as embarassing. Meaning that yeah, its cool to laugh at this movie with White folks around. This is due in large part to the movie actually having skilled actors and comedians in the cast.

Michael Jai White (writer and director of the movie), Salli Richardson, Bookeem Woodbine, Tommy Davidson, Aresnio Hall, Kym Whitley, Mykelti Williamson, Cedric Yarbrough, Miguel Nunez, Chris Spencer and alot of other familiar faces will be found in this film. Hell, even John Salley and Brian McKnight are in it. So you know that even though the film is meant to be silly...serious talent was involved in pulling it off.

If you've been keeping up with the trailers and internet clips promoting the film, you'd know that alot of work was put into making this film an actual experience and that's what it felt like watching it. Everybody in the theatre was rolling and the "Cinemaphonic Quadrovision" filter that they added to the film actually made it look like it was made in the 1970's.

I really don't know what else I can say about the movie without spoiling it or getting the jokes wrong. Plus, I'm going off of straight memory since I couldn't take notes in my cell phone (they asked me to put it away, might have thought I was recording?). But the film is pretty much about what all Blaxplotation films are about...sticking it to "the man."

The movie starts fast and doesn't slow down anywhere. Each scene payed attention to detail through intricate wardrobe and writing. Of course the score/soundtrack played a part in the feel of the film too. All of the songs were funky as hell and equally funny at times. Just like the soundtracks of Blaxploitation flicks of the past, there was a song for damn near every scene. So if Black Dynamite was walking into the room...then dammit, the song sung "Black Dynamite is walking in the rooooooom."

The only drawback about the film is probably something that was done on purpose...which is the confusing plot twists towards the end and the lagging final fight scenes.

Really, all I can do is just encourage you to go see it for yourself if you are looking for a good laugh. The movie opens today in Atlanta, NYC, LA, Chicago, Philly and Seattle.

Leave the kids at home though, there's titties and alot of cursing in it.